Introducing a New Correlation for Multiphase Flow Through Surface Chokes With Newly Incorporated Parameters

Abstract

Summary Flow-rate prediction of oil production wells is of prime importance to effectively confront high-water-cut and separator problems. (Semi-) empirical multiphase-flow correlations are proved quite useful for this purpose. This work presents new generalized multiphase flow choke correlation, derived on the basis of actual production data from horizontal and vertical wells from an oil field in Iran. The newly established correlation predicts liquid flow rates as a function of flowing wellhead pressure, gas/liquid ratio, surface wellhead choke size, and the newly incorporated parameters: basic sediment and water (BS&W) and temperature. To evaluate the influence of these two new parameters, a parameter-sensitivity analysis was performed and the results are shown. This proposed correlation exhibited an average error of roughly 2.89%, which is superior to those previous correlations in the literature that did not use these two newly incorporated parameters (BS&W and temperature). These new parameters can be added to the previous correlations when the water cut and temperature become important in the production history of the wells.